Digital Services Act and its impact on Europe's economic recovery and digital transformation

„The Digital Services Act (DSA) is the latest proposal aimed to update the legislative framework for digital services and platforms in the European Union. The core of the proposal is to modernise the eCommerce directive which was adopted 20 years ago and which represents the legal cornerstone of Internet regulation. It’s limited liability regime has allowed small and medium businesses to grow and prosper internationally through the use of online platforms and services, and it has encouraged innovation and creativity which led to overall benefits for all European citizens.“ said Andrea Doko Jelušić, Executive Director, AmCham Croatia at today's online event that was organized by American Chamber of Commerce aimed at opening a discussion on the importance of the Digital Services Act in Croatia and it's impact on Europe's economic recovery and digital transformation.

Benedikt Blomeyer, Director for EU Policy, Allied for Startups held the introductory speech and added „The Digital Services Act will reshape the foundation of the digital economy post-COVID. Approximately 92% of the over 10,000 online platforms in Europe are startups and SMEs. The DSA should be made with them, and not just for them. Now is the time for innovators to co-create a DSA for startups.“

Maja Radišič-Žuvanić, Head of Digital Economy Service, Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development; Kristina Posavec, Deputy State Secretary, Central State Office for the Development of Digital Society; Valter Flego, Member of the European Parliament and Vlaho Hrdalo, Lawyer and Chairman, Croatian association for blockchain and cryptocurrency participated in the panel discussion that followed and concluded that DSA is extremely important legislation and agreed that the online environment has changed significantly since the adoption of the e-Commerce Directive. The growth of the internet has also raised issues of illegal and harmful content online. The DSA has the ambition to strengthen the EU digital services market, harmonize rules and provide clarity on the role and responsibilities of network platforms to make the Internet a safe space for users, while enabling employment, economic recovery and innovation.

Valter Flego, Member of the European Parliament added „This is the digital decade of Europe in which technology is advancing day by day. Existing legislation is not designed for the digital economy and that is why we need a new legal framework. EU security is a priority of EU digital services legislation. This includes secure social networks, secure online shopping and sales, hate speech suppression, privacy protection and fair competition. The internet must be a safe place. What is illegal in the real world must be illegal in the online world as well.“

„Living in the digital era, we find the role of DSA immense, and as the responsible ministry we see it as the keystone act that will modernise eCommerce Directive. Wider framework needs to be established together with new, fresh and forward looking kind of act that will set up a new rules for information intermediaries and service providers. The internet platforms have changed a lot, but also the role of information intermediaries, and it needs to be altered and adjusted to digital era. That's the necessity, not just to strengthen the digital single market but to ensure that online service providers and platforms act responsibly and lawfully - everywhere.“ said Maja Radišič-Žuvanić, Head of Digital Economy Service, Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development.

„The internet environment has changed significantly during the last 20 years and new technologies have changed our lives and businesses. Internet growth has also raised questions about illegal and harmful content on the network. The DSA aims to strengthen the digital service market in the EU, harmonize rules and provide clarity in the role and accountability of network platforms to make the internet a safe space for users while enabling employment, economic recovery and innovation. DSA will influence solving of existing challenges in the digital single market.“ pointed out Kristina Posavec, Deputy State Secretary, Central State Office for the Development of Digital Society.

Vlaho Hrdalo, Lawyer and Chairman, Croatian association for blockchain and cryptocurrency advocated smart regulation because he believes that excessive regulation is not always the best approach and that it can make it harder for startups to do business.